The best waterfalls near Richmond, Virginia are Crabtree Falls, Lower Whiteoak Falls, Rose River Falls and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is South River Falls, about 80 miles northwest of Richmond.
For more waterfalls around Richmond, browse the nearest towns: Stanardsville, Lovingston, Boydton, Nellysford, Crimora, Elkton, Washington, Grottoes. You can also see every waterfall on the Virginia waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 15 publicly accessible Virginia waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Richmond that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Crabtree Falls
90 miles west of Richmond. Our top pick near the city 4.9 out of 5 from 454 reviews.
Nelson County, VA 22976 (GPS 37.8432, -79.0745)
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Crabtree Falls is about 90 miles west of Richmond, near Nellysford. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 454 Google reviews, and 89% of them give it five stars. In short: "5 major cascades & a number of smaller ones that fall a total distance of 1,200 ft." Reviews most often mention Crabtree Falls, uphill hike, and elevation gain.
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2. Lower Whiteoak Falls
85 miles northwest of Richmond. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 38 reviews.
Page County, VA 22743 (GPS 38.5560, -78.3534)
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Lower Whiteoak Falls is about 85 miles northwest of Richmond, near Stanley. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 38 Google reviews, and 92% of them give it five stars.
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3. Rose River Falls
85 miles northwest of Richmond. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 33 reviews.
Madison County, VA 22743 (GPS 38.5315, -78.4083)
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Rose River Falls is about 85 miles northwest of Richmond, near Stanley. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 33 Google reviews, and 91% of them give it five stars.
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4. Upper Whiteoak Falls
85 miles northwest of Richmond. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 25 reviews.
Page County, VA 22743 (GPS 38.5634, -78.3636)
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Upper Whiteoak Falls is about 85 miles northwest of Richmond, near Stanley. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 25 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars.
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5. Cedar Run Falls
84 miles northwest of Richmond. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 19 reviews.
Page County, VA 22743 (GPS 38.5375, -78.3618)
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Cedar Run Falls is about 84 miles northwest of Richmond, near Stanley. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 19 Google reviews.
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6. South River Falls
80 miles northwest of Richmond. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 47 reviews.
Greene County, VA 22973 (GPS 38.3796, -78.5011)
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South River Falls is about 80 miles northwest of Richmond, near Stanardsville. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 47 Google reviews, and 77% of them give it five stars.
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7. Dark Hollow Falls
85 miles northwest of Richmond. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 159 reviews.
Madison County, VA 22743 (GPS 38.5190, -78.4233)
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Dark Hollow Falls is about 85 miles northwest of Richmond, near Stanley. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 159 Google reviews, and 77% of them give it five stars. In short: "Picturesque series of cascading waterfalls over greenstone, accessible by a moderate 1.4-mi. hike."
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8. Big Branch Falls
82 miles northwest of Richmond. Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
Augusta County, VA 22932 (GPS 38.1661, -78.7467)
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Big Branch Falls is about 82 miles northwest of Richmond, near Crimora. Visitors rate it 4.2 stars across 5 Google reviews.
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9. Lewis Spring Falls
86 miles northwest of Richmond. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 12 reviews.
Page County, VA 22851 (GPS 38.5204, -78.4495)
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Lewis Spring Falls is about 86 miles northwest of Richmond, near Stanley. Visitors rate it 4.4 stars across 12 Google reviews. Reviews most often mention hike and waterfall.
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10. Overall Run Falls
96 miles northwest of Richmond. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 46 reviews.
Rappahannock County, VA 22610 (GPS 38.7834, -78.2945)
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Overall Run Falls is about 96 miles northwest of Richmond, near Washington. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 46 Google reviews, and 76% of them give it five stars. In short: "Scenic hiking trails through lush woods lead to this picturesque cascading waterfall."
Waterfall Day Trips From Richmond
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| South River Falls | 80 mi northwest | Stanardsville | 4.7 |
| Big Branch Falls | 82 mi northwest | Crimora | 4.2 |
| Cedar Run Falls | 84 mi northwest | Stanley | 4.9 |
| Lower Whiteoak Falls | 85 mi northwest | Stanley | 4.9 |
| Dark Hollow Falls | 85 mi northwest | Stanley | 4.7 |
| Rose River Falls | 85 mi northwest | Stanley | 4.9 |
| Upper Whiteoak Falls | 85 mi northwest | Stanley | 4.9 |
| Lewis Spring Falls | 86 mi northwest | Stanley | 4.4 |
| Crabtree Falls | 90 mi west | Nellysford | 4.9 |
| Overall Run Falls | 96 mi northwest | Washington | 4.6 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Richmond. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Richmond?
Crabtree Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 90 miles west of Richmond and rated 4.9 stars from 454 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Richmond?
Of the waterfalls on this list, South River Falls is the closest, about 80 straight-line miles northwest of the city, near Stanardsville.
How many waterfalls are near Richmond?
We track 15 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Virginia within 100 miles of Richmond. See every waterfall in the state on the Virginia waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 15 publicly accessible Virginia waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Richmond that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
What is the tallest waterfall in Virginia?
Crabtree Falls in Nelson County is commonly described as the tallest cascading waterfall in Virginia, with five major cascades and many smaller ones dropping a total of about 1,200 feet.
Summary
Crabtree Falls is our top waterfall pick near Richmond, rated 4.9 out of 5 and about 90 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Spring, from roughly March through May, is the classic season for Virginia waterfalls, when rain and snowmelt keep streams high and wildflowers bloom in the hollows of Shenandoah. Early summer still offers good flow, especially after storms, along with dense green foliage and rhododendron and mountain laurel blooms in the higher mountains. By late summer, many falls in Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge thin out considerably. Fall color usually peaks in the mountains in mid to late October, bringing heavy traffic on Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially on weekends. Winter can be beautiful, with icicles and frozen falls after hard cold snaps, but ice on trails and occasional closures of mountain roads during snow and ice events can complicate access.
For more Virginia waterfalls, see the full Virginia waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Virginia, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Virginia and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Virginia.